All posts by ukbolivia

Dr. Vinicius Mariano de Carvalho is Lecturer in Brazilian Studies at King’s College London and Honorary Professor for Brazilian Studies at Aarhus University in Denmark. He researches in Brazilian Defence and Security issues.

Organized crime and drug gangs are increasing their activities in Brazil in recent years. Violent crimes related to territorial dispute by drug gangs are creating a feeling of war zone in many urban centers in Brazil, with very high homicide rates. This problem is, however, not restricted to Brazilian territory, but is affecting the region as a whole. This talk will present the current situation of organized crime in Brazil and discuss the international consequences of this issue, especially regarding Bolivia, Colombia and Paraguay.

Dr Thomas Grisaffi is a social anthropologist currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of the Americas (University College London). His main research focus is the political ascent of the Chapare coca growers’ union in Bolivia.

Bolivia is the world’s third largest producer of cocaine, a drug manufactured from coca leaf – which is central to Andean culture. On coming to power in 2006 President Morales made a radical break with the previous US-backed anti-drugs strategy, which focused on the forced eradication of coca leaf and the criminalisation of coca growers. That approach resulted in two decades of violence, and neither reduced coca production nor restricted the flow of drugs reaching the US. Bolivia’s new policy, often referred to as ‘coca yes cocaine no’, draws on the coca growers’ own distinction between coca leaf and cocaine. The strategy legalized the cultivation of a small amount of coca leaf in specific zones, encourages the coca unions to self-police to ensure growers do not exceed this limit, and envisions the industrialization and export of coca-based products.

The overriding aim of the policy is to reduce harmsto coca grower communities. Drawing on extensive ethnographic fieldwork carried out in the Chapare coca-growing region Thomas Grisaffi provides a bottom up account of the new coca policy.

A collaboration between :
Photographer David X Green and Geographer Dr Kate Maclean

Photographs of chiﬂeras and amautas. The indigenous wisdom in these women’s work involves the rituals, artifacts and medicines that play a central role in culture, health and spirituality in Bolivia although it has been been sidelined as “witchcraft” under colonial powers.

Exhibition 4-25 March 2017

Peltz Gallery, Birkbeck, University of London School of Arts, 43 Gordon Square London WC1H 0PD

In the Bolivian Andes members of the Aymara community of Quillacas perform an annual ritual to summon rain clouds at the end of the dry season that reflects the ecological co-dependency of the Andes and the Amazonian region. In Umaturka artist, writer and filmmaker Giovanna Miralles and environmental anthropologist Peter Wilkin allow the protagonists in the events to relate a sometimes fraught and contentious narrative. The result is an unsentimental portrait of the reality of an ancient tradition in a modern world. In November 2015 Giovanna and Peter presented the film’s trailer to Anglo-Bolivian Society members and friends who can now enjoy the completed documentary. There will be a stall offering merchandise, the proceeds from which will go towards funding the modification of the museum in Quillacas so the film can be permanently available to the community.

The Bolivian Embassy & Anglo-Bolivian Society cordially invite you to:
“BOQUERÓN:
THE STORY THAT MUST BE TOLD”
Tonchy Antezana – Director
Friday November 18th 2016, 19.00
Bolivar Hall, 54-56 Grafton Way
London W1T 5DLFREE ENTRYSPANISH FILM WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
(Not suitable for children under the age of 12)
Boquerón was the first major battle of the Chaco war fought between Bolivia and Paraguay
from 9 to 29 September 1932 at a fort where 600 Bolivian soldiers held back the
Paraguayan advance of over 12,000 troops.
“Boquerón, the story that must be told” by scriptwriter and director Tonchy Antezana (“Evo
Pueblo” and “Cementerio de Elefantes”) is the first Bolivian motion picture about the Chaco
War (1932 – 1935), the last and bloodiest conflict of the twentieth century in South America,
fought between Bolivia and Paraguay in the heart of the continent.

Booking required: please RSVP by November 10th to anglobolivian@gmail.com or embol@bolivianembassy.co.uk